A Guy Fawkes Night event which vandals tried to disrupt went ahead last night – to a capacity crowd.
Arsonists set the bonfire alight at midnight on Wednesday, just 18 hours before Allington’s annual display was due to be staged on the Bottesford Road playing field.
But an appeal to local businesses was so successful, organisers ran out of time to collect all the timber offered.
Spokesman John Slater said: “After our appeal for material for the bonfire we had a fantastic response. It’s difficult to say how many people helped.
“Some locals just brought odds and ends while at the other end of the scale businesses like Turnbulls and Vacu Lug (they sent pallets not tyres) were able to provide lorry loads.”
Nearly 500 people attended which is about as many as the event can cope with.
Despite a poor forecast the weather was mostly dry.
He said: “The fireworks and accompanying music were great.
“We will have raised in excess of £2500 which goes towards improvements at the playing field in Allington.
“I can’t remember all of the businesses that contributed but would like to thank those that did including Turnbulls of Sleaford, Vacu Lug, DX Freight, Vertu Honda and Proctors Transport.
Sarah Elvidge of Ambitions Personnel also rallied local businesses.
She said: “Arraquip Steel gave us a van load and got all their men to help, Belvoir Fruit Farms, Kestrel , Environcom , DIS Plastics, and Macfarlane gave us lorry loads.
“We had more but didn’t have enough time to get them after getting the van stuck.
“A big thank you to Ancaster service gave us a van for free when no one else wanted to help or charge us a fortune.
“And a big thank you to Ambitions Personnel for their their contacts and willingness to help the community.
“ I spent all day on it yesterday and people had to cover me.
“It was better than a Lord Sugar Apprentice mission.”
What a lovely story! Ay up so pleased it worked out well!